The Wilmingtonian., 1887-12-10
Ventilation of Rooms for the Sick.
BY G. H BUsHoNa.


A few remarks on general ventilation are
appropriate as au introduction to the subject
under consideration. The Importance OF
this subject has been recognized only short
time. Since it has been agitated and has
come to be generally known, new profession
has been ushered into being-that Of sani-
tary engineer. These, while they differ wide
ly in many things. all agree on two points,
namely:-First: The necessity of means for
getting in plenty of new, pure air, to make a
building healthful habitation for man.
Second; That infinitely few modern dwell
lings possess adequate means for furnishing
this supply.
Lack of pure air in dwellings is a direct
result of our advancing civilization, a result,
we should say, that now bids fair soon to be
thing of the past Until recently the main
object in planning houses has been to make
them as nearly air-tight as possible. They
protect their occupants better from the vi
cissitudes of climate than those of a century
or more ago, but they also give them almost
mo ventilation. They give more comfort with
less heathfGl surroundings; luxury at the ex
lpense of purity of lung food. A dwelling
made tight enough to keep cold air out will
also keep foul air in, houses of our ancestors,
being less tight, allowed free passage of
air out and in, and their occupants were ex-
,empt from many modern diseases that we
now know to be due TO confinement in the
foul air of close Rooms. In this respect,
our forefathers were better off than we are.
If we read the signs of the times Alright,
the era of unventilated houses will soon be
ended. The Investigations Of scientists have
. orn fruit, and as the people obtain more
thorough knowledge of the results of their
labors, they will become In an equal degree
averse to living in air-tight houses. The
discovery of spores, baoteriae, and poisonous
gases in contaminated air has begun revo-
luton in house building. The dissemination
of this knowege has made, and will make,
people demand that their homes shall be free
from these deleterious substances. This de-
mand is even now SO general that builders
dare not make dwellings without some
device Co give at least the appearance Of ven-
tilation, It is true that many of these con-
trivances are put in merely to al!ay the ap-
lprehensions of the prospective occupants,
and are totally inadequate for the purpose;
yet, the fact that the people demand some
thing is heathful sign. 1t gives foundation
for hope that, in the near future, we shall
have all homes furnished with easy and am
lpe means for giving the occupants that
abundance of pure, clean air, that is so need
ing for condition of perfect health.
Many of our modern diseases are directly
due to the re-breathing of impure air. Some
dwellings are pest houses for the aocum-
ulation aud retention of atmospheric impuri.
ties. In order to have health we must drive
out the tainted air, with it's noxious gases,
products of bodily waste, and disease germs,
aud supply an abundance of fresh air to
take its place.
from the atmosphere, vast ocean of air
that surrounds the earth. This is about one
fifth oxygen, and nearly four-fifths is nitro
gen, an inert diluent. Every time air is
taken into the lungs portion of the oxygen
passes through the thin walls of the air cells
(vesicles) directly into the blood. In return,
the blood gives up carbonic acid gas, "a poi
son. aud many impurities IN the form of
cast off waste products. for which the system
has no further use. The expired air is thus
injured in two ways. The nourishing prin
ciple is deficient, and the poisonous elements
are increased. 1t can injure both in the way
of not aftordipg enough oxygen, and also by
returning into the system lot of hurtful
things of which it has made an effort to rid
ITSELF by casting them off.
When the individual is sick all these con-
ditions are much aggravated. The need of
an abundance of pure air is mach greater.
Indeed many wasting diseases are now sue
cessfully treated by the inhalation of oxygen
in larger amounts than the best of atmos
pheric air will give. The system needs every
external aid in the form of nourshment that
it can have to enable it to resist the inroads
of the disease. In addition to this need Of
healthy food for the lungs, we must remem-
Der that, in most diseased conditions, the
patients are much more susceptible to the
influences of injurious surroundings. Also,
that the products of waste cast off into the
air are greater in amount from sick than
from well persons. To this must be added
the increased amount constantly being cast
off by the skin and taken up by the sur.
rounding air, and also, in many cases, the
disease germs that are constantly being
thrown off. All these things combine to
make the air of an unventilated sick room a
very uucleau and dangerous thing to take
into ones lungs.
The object of ventilating sick rooms is t